Image of Lestes stultus Hagen 1861

Description:

Around a dozen spreadwings were found around this small pond, including multiple pairs in tandem. There are two very similar regional species, the Black Spreadwing (L. stultus) and the Spotted Spreadwing (L. congener) Seperating them requires looking closely at their reproductive structues; Black Spreadwings have obvious, boot-shaped paraprocts and Spotted Spreadwings have small, nub-looking indistinct paraprocts. In the Central Valley, these two species have been known to emerge at the same time and are occasionally found together.